Charles de Lint^[1][2][3] (born December 22, 1951) is aCanadian writer.

Primarily a writer of fantasy fiction, he has composed works ofurban fantasy, contemporarymagical realism, andmythic fiction.^[4] Along with authors likeTerri Windling,Emma Bull, andJohn Crowley, de Lint during the 1980s pioneered and popularized the subgenre of urban fantasy. He writes novels, novellas, short stories, poetry, and lyrics. His most famous works include:^[5] theNewford series of books (Dreams Underfoot,Widdershins,The Blue Girl,The Onion Girl,Moonlight and Vines,Someplace to be Flying, etc.), as well asMoonheart,The Mystery of Grace,The Painted Boy andA Circle of Cats (children's book illustrated byCharles Vess). His distinctive style of fantasy usesAmerican folklore andEuropean folklore; de Lint was influenced by many authors ofmythology,folklore, andscience fiction, including^[1]J. R. R. Tolkien,Lord Dunsany,William Morris,Mervyn Peake,James Branch Cabell, andE. R. Eddison. Some of his mythic fiction poetry can be found online on theEndicott Studio website.^[6]

As anessayist/critic/folklorist he writes book reviews forThe Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, has judged several literary awards, and has been a writer-in-residence for two public libraries.

Charles de Lint was born in 1951 inBussum, in North Holland in the Netherlands. His family emigrated to Canada when he was four months old. He grew up in Canada, as well as overseas, but has lived inOttawa since he was age eleven.

In 1974 he met MaryAnn Harris,^[7][8] and they married in 1980. They lived in Ottawa. Harris was first editor of de Lint's fiction and also his business manager.^[9]

MaryAnn Harris was hospitalized on September 6, 2021 forPowassan virus, a rare and debilitating tick-borne disease.^[10] On his author Facebook page, de Lint announced that MaryAnn passed away as a result of the disease on June 3, 2024.^[11] Her obituary noted that she had been de Lint's inspiration, co-musician, first editor, business manager, and artist for many of his published works. TheBruyère Foundation was suggested for memorial donations made in her name as well as to other causes that were important to her, including groups devoted to aiding youth, Indigenous peoples, animal shelters, and the environment.^[12]

During his late twenties to early thirties, de Lint worked in arecord store and played with a Celtic musical band during weekends.^[13]

Charles de Lint started writing in 1983 and has been a full-time writer ever since, publishing about forty books between 1984 and 1997, and 71 books (excluding foreign editions and reprints), in total, thus gaining a reputation as a master of fantasy.

Charles de Lint was one of the contributors to the 1984Citybook II: Port O' Call role-playing game supplement fromFlying Buffalo.^[14][15]

He published threehorror novels using the pseudonym Samuel M. Key^[13] which have subsequently been reprinted byOrb Books as by Charles de Lint. He has also published a children's book,A Circle of Cats, illustrated by artistCharles Vess.^[16]

His main genre, that ofcontemporary fantasy, which combines the real world with the "otherworld", allows the co-existence of the natural and the supernatural. This has been termed a metaphor for the lack of indigenous folklore in most of Canada living side-by-side with the living oral traditions of the Native Americans.^[17] De Lint, however, draws upon not only North American Aboriginal culture, but also the folklore of other cultures. For example, his novel,Moonheart, uses elements of both Native American and Welsh folklore.^[17]

Many of his early books are set in Ottawa, while others (1990–2009) have been set mainly in his fictional North American city ofNewford,^[13] inspired by de Lint's favourite aspects of various North American cities. A regular set of characters are used in many different books. More recently, de Lint published an adult novel,The Mystery of Grace (Tor 2009), set in his fictional Southwestern US town, Santa de Vado Viejo, as was his most recent young adult novel,The Painted Boy (Viking 2010).

De Lint has received many awards, including theWorld Fantasy Award forLife Achievement in 2018.^[18] Other awards include the 2000 World Fantasy Award forBest Collection forMoonlight and Vines, the Ontario Library Association's White Pine Award, as well as the Great Lakes Great Books Award for his young adult novelThe Blue Girl (Viking, 2004).^[19] In 1988 he won the Canadian SF/Fantasy Award, the Casper (now known as theAurora) for his novelJack, the Giant-killer (Ace 1987). He also received the award forUnder My Skin in 2013 andOut of This World in 2015.^[19]The Cats of Tanglewood Forest received aSunburst Award in 2014.^[19] His novelWiddershins (Tor, 2006) won first place, Amazon.com Editors' Picks: Top 10 Science Fiction & Fantasy Books of 2006.^[20] His 1984 urban fantasy novel,Moonheart, was a best-selling trade paperback for Tor's Orb line and won aCrawford Award.^[19] It has been described as a thriller, detective mystery, and otherworld mythic fantasy.^[17]

In addition to being the author of numerous novels and short stories, de Lint is also a poet, folklorist, and critic. His poetry can be found online in theEndicott StudioJournal of Mythic Arts. He has taught creative writing workshops in Canada and the United States, and was writer‑in‑residence for two public libraries in Ottawa. He has also written original songs; his main instruments are flute, fiddle, whistles, vocals and guitar. In 2011, de Lint released his first CD,Old Blue Truck^[20] De Lint has also been a judge for theNebula Award, theWorld Fantasy Award, theTheodore Sturgeon Award and theBram Stoker Award.

De Lint plays folk, Irish and Celtic music with his wife MaryAnn; at one time playing at a local pub, and most recently doing concerts at FaerieWorlds and FaerieCon West in Seattle. He plays multiple instruments and sings and writes his own songs. In 2011 de Lint released his first album,Old Blue Truck,^[21] which was released alongside his wife MaryAnn Harris's album,Crow Girls^[22] in which he also contributes.

This list isincomplete; you can help byadding missing items.(February 2016)

• The Riddle of the Wren. New York: Ace Books. 1984.
• Moonheart: A Romance. New York: Ace Books. 1984.
• The Harp of the Grey Rose. Norfolk, Va.: Donning. 1985.
• Mulengro: A Romany Tale. 1985.
• Yarrow. 1986.
• Jack, the Giant-Killer. 1987.^[31]
• Greenmantle. 1988.
• Wolf Moon. 1988.
• Svaha. 1989.
• The Valley of Thunder.Philip José Farmer'sDungeon series #3. 1989.
• The Hidden City.Philip José Farmer'sDungeon series #5. 1990.
• Ghostwood. 1990.^[32]
• Drink Down the Moon. 1990.^[31]
• Angel of Darkness. 1990.^[33]
• The Little Country. 1991.^[34]
• Into the Green. 1993.
• The Wild Wood (Brian Froud's Faerielands, Illustrated byBrian Froud) (1994)
• Memory and Dream (1994)
• Someplace to Be Flying (1998)
• The Road to Lisdoonvarna (2001)
• The Blue Girl (2004)
• The Mystery of Grace (2009)
• Eyes Like Leaves (2009)
• Under My Skin (2012)
• Over My Head (2013)
• Out of This World (2014)
• The Wind in His Heart (2017)
• Juniper Wiles (2021)
• Juniper Wiles and the Ghost Girls (2022)
• Juniper Wiles Does Not Want to Be Queen (2025)

Some additional young adult novels are listed under their series name below.

• Little (Grrl) Lost (2007)
• The Painted Boy (2010)
• The Cats of Tanglewood Forest (illustrated byCharles Vess) (2013)
• Seven Wild Sisters: A Modern Fairy Tale (illustrated byCharles Vess) (2002)

• Berlin (1989)
• The Fair in Emain Macha (1990)
• Our Lady of the Harbour (1991)
• Paperjack (1992)
• Death Leaves an Echo (part of three novella collection, Cafe Purgatoriam) (1991)
• A Circle of Cats (illustrated byCharles Vess) (2003)
• Promises to Keep (2007,Tachyon Publications)
• A Tangle of Green Men (2011)

• Laughter in the Leaves (1984)
• Ghosts of Wind and Shadow (1991)
• Refinerytown (2003)
• This Moment (2005)
• Make A Joyful Noise (2006)
• Old Man Crow (2007)
• Riding Shotgun (2007)
• Yellow Dog (2008)

• Ascian in Rose (1987) (re-published inSpiritwalk)
• Westlin Wind (1989) (re-published inSpiritwalk)
• Uncle Dobbin's Parrot Fair (1991) (re-published inDreams Underfoot)
• Our Lady of the Harbour (1991) (re-published inDreams Underfoot)
• Paperjack (1991) (re-published inDreams Underfoot)
• Merlin Dreams in the Mondream Wood (1992) (re-published inSpiritwalk)
• The Wishing Well (1993) (re-published inThe Ivory and the Horn)
• The Buffalo Man (1999) (re-published inTapping the Dream Tree)

• A Pattern of Silver Strings (1981)
• De Grijze Roos ("The Grey Rose") (1983) (translated into Flemish)
• In Mask and Motley (1983)
• Desert Moments (1991)
• Hedgework and Guessery (1991)
• Spiritwalk (1992)
• Jack of Kinrowan (1995)
• Triskell Tales (2000)
• Waifs and Strays (2002)
• A Handful of Coppers (2003) (Collected Early Stories, Vol.1: Heroic Fantasy)
• Quicksilver & Shadow (2004) (Collected Early Stories, Vol.2)
• Triskell Tales 2 (2006)
• What the Mouse Found and Other Stories (2008)
• Woods and Waters Wild (2008)
• The Very Best of Charles de Lint (2010)

Newford is a fictional North American city where Charles de Lint has set many of his novels and short stories. Human beings share the city with European and Native American mythological legends, finding common ground as they live out their daily lives or find themselves swept up in adventures.^[35]

• The Dreaming Place (young adult, illustrated byBrian Froud) (1990)
• From a Whisper to a Scream (first published under the pseudonymSamuel M. Key) (1992)
• I'll Be Watching You (first published under the pseudonymSamuel M. Key) (1994)
• Memory and Dream (1994)
• Trader (1997)
• Someplace to Be Flying (1998)
• Forests of the Heart (2000)
• The Onion Girl (2001)
• Seven Wild Sisters (Novella illustrated byCharles Vess) (2002)
• Spirits in the Wires (2003)
• A Circle of Cats (2003) (written as a children's book)
• Medicine Road (illustrated byCharles Vess,Tachyon Publications) (2004)
• The Blue Girl (young adult) (2004)
• Widdershins (2006)
• Promises to Keep (2007,Tachyon Publications)
• Old Man Crow (2007)
• Dingo (young adult) (2008)
• Juniper Wiles (2021)
• Juniper Wiles and the Ghost Girls (2022)
• Juniper Wiles Does Not Want to Be Queen (2025)

Newford Series Collections

• Dreams Underfoot (1993)
• The Ivory and the Horn (1995)
• Moonlight and Vines (1999)
• The Newford Stories (compilesDreams Underfoot,The Ivory and the Horn &Moonlight and Vines) (1999)
• Tapping the Dream Tree (2002)
• The Hour Before Dawn (2005)
• Riding Shotgun (2007)
• Muse and Reverie: A Newford Collection (2009)
• Newford Stories: Crow Girls (2015)
• Newford Stories: The Blue Fiddle (2022)

• "The Valley of the Troll" inSword and Sorceress I (1984)
• "Cold Blows The Wind" inSword and Sorceress II (1985)
• "The Weeping Oak" inSword and Sorceress IV (1987)
• "Into the Green" inSword and Sorceress V (1988)
• "One Chance" inWerewolves (edited byJane Yolen andMartin H. Greenberg). Reprinted inBruce Coville'sBook of Spine Tinglers (1988)
• "Somewhere in My Mind There is a Painting Box" inThe Green Man: Tales from the Mythic Forest (2002)
• "Companions to the Moon" inRealms of Fantasy (June, 2007). Reprinted inPeter S. Beagle'sThe Urban Fantasy (2011)
• "Ten for the Devil" inBattle Magic (Daw Books). Reprinted inTim Pratt'sSympathy for the Devil (2010)
• "The Butter Spirit's Tithe (2004) inEmerald Magic

De Lint also scripted several comic books for Barry Blair's Aircel Publishing in the mid-1980s.

His short story, "The Sacred Fire", was made into a short film byPeter Billingsley andRobert Meyer Burnett in 1994.^[36] Originally set on and near the campus ofButler University, the setting was changed toBeverly Hills for the film. It was also adapted as an episode ofThe Hunger in January 2000.

• Cafe Purgatorium (1991) (with Dana. M. Anderson &Ray Garton)

• De Lint writes a regular review column called "Books to Look For" for theMagazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.^[37]
• Wrote several reviews in 1978 edition ofBeyond the Fields We Know: Tales of Fantasy magazine as well as published poemFar from the Rush.
• Wrote several reviews in FanzineDragonfields: Tales of Fantasy #3, Summer 1980 edition.
• Wrote several reviews in FanzineDragonfields: Tales of Fantasy #4, Winter 1983 editon.

• Old Blue Truck^[21] (2011)
• Crow Girls (MaryAnn Harris)^[22] (2011)
• The Loon's Lament—digital single (2011)^[38] (previously released on the albumA Walk on the Windy Side in 2002).

Wikiquote has quotations related toCharles de Lint.

• Charles de Lint
• Charles de Lint at theInternet Speculative Fiction Database
• At OFearna's site
• Charles de Lint atIMDb
• Article at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
• Charles de Lint discography atDiscogs
• Year's Best 2012: Charles de Lint on "A Tangle of Green Men"
• Locus Online: Charles de Lint interview excerpts (issue 6, June 2003)
• Interview with Charles de Lint ( Challenging Destiny Number 9, 2000)
• Kim Antieau: Interview with Charles de Lint (April 28, 2008)
• Charles de Lint – SF Signal (2010)
• Bookslut: An Interview with Charles de Lint (June 2006)Archived October 13, 2012, at theWayback Machine
• Charles de Lint – Online Radio Interview with the Author (December 2009)
• Charles de Lint: Interview by NerdHelm (2011)Archived July 22, 2012, at theWayback Machine
• Fantasy, Rockabilly & Grace: An Interview with Genre Master Charles De Lint (March 2009)
• Green Man's Charles de Lint Edition
• Someplace to Be Flying: An Interview with Charles de Lint by Michael McCarty

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